Vancouver’s Missing “Thank You” – Our City’s Epidemic of Silent Entitlement

Picture this: You’re cruising along Cambie Street, and you do something unheard of in the grand scheme of Vancouver driving—you let someone merge in front of you. A simple, kind-hearted act of generosity. And what do you get in return? Silence. No wave, no nod, not even a tiny flicker of brake lights to acknowledge your existence. Just cold, thankless indifference as they carry on their way, as if divine forces had parted the traffic just for them.

Welcome to driving in Vancouver, where yielding is mandatory, but gratitude is apparently optional.

Drivers: The Thankless Navigators of Passive Aggression

In other cities—Halifax, for instance—you let someone in, and they hit you with the enthusiastic, over-the-top hand wave, sometimes even followed by the double-tap on the rearview mirror. In the U.S., they might actually make eye contact (a rare and beautiful thing) and mouth a "Thanks!"

But in Vancouver? Nothing. The most you’ll get is an icy stare through tinted windows, like you were legally required to let them in, and therefore no gratitude is necessary. Maybe we’ve just absorbed too much of that "aloof West Coast cool" energy, but let’s be honest—it’s not that hard to lift a single hand off the wheel for a quick wave. You won’t crash, I promise.

Bikers vs. Drivers: A Battle of Mutual Disregard

Now, let’s talk about cyclists, the unsung (and often "un-waving") antiheroes of the road. In a city that prides itself on being bike-friendly, you’d think there would be a little more camaraderie. But no—when a driver patiently holds up traffic so a cyclist can blow through a stop sign like it's merely a suggestion, what’s the reaction? Dead silence. No nod, no thumbs-up, no nothing.

On the flip side, if a cyclist graciously moves over to let a car pass on a narrow road, the driver just speeds ahead like it was owed to them. No courtesy honk, no acknowledgment. Just a mutual agreement that neither side will ever appreciate the other.

Pedestrians: Masters of the Slow-Motion Crosswalk

Pedestrians in Vancouver have truly perfected the art of the slow, indifferent crosswalk shuffle. In other Canadian cities, you’ll see people hustle across the street with a quick little thank-you wave to waiting cars. But here? People make direct eye contact, slow down, and saunter across like they just remembered they left the stove on and are contemplating their entire life’s choices.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., crossing the street is often a real-life game of Frogger. There, if a car stops for you, you run—not walk—because it might just be a trick.

Could We Just Be... Nicer?

Look, Vancouver, I get it. We have our own unique brand of West Coast indifference. We keep to ourselves, we stare at our phones, and we’ve collectively agreed that eye contact is only for emergencies. But maybe, just maybe, we could all start being a little bit nicer to each other?

A simple thank-you wave, a nod of appreciation, or (dare I say it) a smile could go a long way in making this city feel less like an emotionally distant ex and more like the friendly, welcoming place it claims to be.

Kindness is contagious, and in a city where warmth isn’t exactly in our social DNA, we could all stand to spread a little more of it. So, next time someone lets you in, moves aside, or stops for you—give them a wave. You never know, it might just start a revolution.

Or at the very least, confuse them enough to brighten their day.